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Football Set To Host Carleton On Senior Day Saturday

The Match Up

The Gustavus Adolphus football team is set to host Carleton College in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) match up on Saturday, Nov. 9. Gustavus enters this weekend’s contest with a record of 5–3 (3–3 MIAC) and is coming off a thrilling 23–20 double overtime win over then-No. 22 Saint John’s last Saturday. Carleton comes in with a record of 4–4 (2–4 MIAC) following a 35–27 loss to Concordia last weekend.

Senior Day

As is tradition at Gustavus, the final home game of the season is designated as Senior Day and a special tribute is made to the individuals who have committed themselves to Gustavus football for the past four years. This year, the Athletics Department, Coach Haugen and his staff, parents, and fans salute 22 seniors who have represented the Gustavus football program with pride and class from 2010 to the present. We thank them for their efforts and wish them the very best in the challenges ahead.

Scouting The Gusties

The Gustavus football team enters this weekend coming off a 23–20 double overtime win over Saint John’s last weekend. Trailing 17–7 early in the third quarter, the Gusties came back to tie the game on the second play of the fourth with a Thomas Schleusener field goal. Gustavus had a chance to win the game with seven seconds left, but a missed field goal sent the game into overtime. After each team made good on field goal attempts in the first overtime, Schleusener split the uprights from 37 yards to give Gustavus the dramatic victory in the second overtime.

Gustavus’s special teams proved to be the difference in the game, as its offense was held to just 250 total yards (109 rushing, 141 passing) on the day. The Johnnies were held to an average starting field position of their own 31-yard line thanks in large part to the Gustavus punt team. The Gusties averaged 38.2 yards per punt, while downing three punts inside the Saint John’s 20-yard line. Gustavus’s punting unit did not allow a single return yard in the game to aid the Gusties in winning the field position battle. Aside from the excellent play of the punt squad, Gustavus also got key contributions from its field goal unit with three field goals and both extra points.

Although the Gusties had a disadvantage of over seven minutes in time of possession, the defense held strong, allowing just 308 yards of total offense (198 rushing, 110 passing). Most impressive, Gustavus held Saint John’s to just two third-down conversions of 14 attempts. The defense also came up with two key stops inside its own 20-yard line. On those two possessions, the Gusties held the Johnnies to a field goal and forced an interception.

For the season, Gustavus is averaging 29.4 points (5th/MIAC) and 349.5 total yards (6th/ MIAC) per game. Running back Jeffrey Dubose has been the catalyst to this point, rushing for 997 yards (2nd/MIAC) on 198 carries and scoring a school-record 17 touchdowns (1st/ MIAC). Quarterback Mitch Hendricks has completed 153 of 252 passes for a completion percentage of 60.7 percent (3rd/MIAC). Hendricks has thrown for 1,464 yards (6th/ MIAC) and eight touchdowns (6th/MIAC). Wide receiver Matt Boyce has been Hendricks’s top target, catching 45 passes (6th/MIAC) for 503 yards (8th/MIAC) and two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Gusties are allowing 21.0 points (4th/MIAC) and 306.5 yards of total offense (2nd/MIAC) per game. Gustavus allows 127.9 yards rushing (3rd/MIAC) and 178.6 yards passing (2nd/MIAC) per contest. Linebacker Joe Haas leads the way with 52 total tackles (26 solo) and a league-leading three forced fumbles. Defensive end Cameron Cropsey follows with 47 tackles (20 solo), seven of which have been for losses, and two sacks. In the secondary, cornerback Zach Dilger leads the league with 10 pass break-ups and is tied for fourth with three interceptions.

Scouting The Knights

Carleton is coming off a near-upset of No. 21 Concordia last Saturday in a 35–27 loss to the Cobbers. After Concordia got out to a 28–7 halftime lead, the Knights cut the deficit to 28–14 early in the third quarter. The Cobbers answered with a touchdown in the final seconds of the third. Carleton fought back, scoring 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late for the Knights in the 12-point loss.

In the game, Carleton gained just 43 yards rushing, but got 319 yards passing from quarterback Conor Lynch for 362 yards of total offense. Wideout Anthony Kemper was Lynch’s top receiver on the day with eight catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Running back John Baker led the way on the ground with 59 yards rushing and three touchdowns.

Defensively, four Knights recorded double-figure tackles. Linebackers Mason Schnarr (15), Mitch Heflin (13), and Daniel Cook (12) combined for 40 tackles, while defensive back Alex Polk rounded out the group with 10.

For the season, Carleton is averaging 25.9 points (6th/MIAC) and 340 total yards (9th/MIAC) per game. Conor Lynch has completed 130 of 228 passes (57%) for 1,571 yards (5th/MIAC) and 13 touchdowns (5th/MIAC). His top target has been Anthony Kemper. Kemper has caught 51 passes (3rd/MIAC) for 796 yards (2nd/MIAC) and eight touchdowns (t-2nd/MIAC). On the ground, John Baker has rushed 94 times for 355 yards and six touchdowns (6th/MIAC).

The Carleton defense is led by three of the top eight tacklers in the MIAC. Mason Schnarr leads the way with 91 total tackles (42 solo), which ranks third in the conference. Daniel Cook (35 solo) and Alex Polk (39 solo) are tied for fifth in the MIAC with 67 tackles each. Cook is also tied for fourth in the league with three interceptions.